An old railway bridge that has fallen into disrepair will be given a new lease of life as part of a scheme to improve access between two Cardiff communities.

The disused railway bridge will be refurbished to help link Llandaff North to Radyr, and to increase accessibility to the Taff Trail.

Walking routes in the area’s Hailey Park will be connected with those running west of the River Taff to join the Taff Trail as part of the plans.

Community volunteers have welcomed the scheme after years of waiting, saying it will improve accessibility and encourage people to make use of Hailey Park.

Coun Ralph Cook, cabinet member for strategic planning, highways, traffic and transportation, said: “This is an excellent scheme that will link the footways in Hailey Park with those running west of the river to link with the Taff Trail. Access to and from Radyr and Llandaff North will also be greatly enhanced for residents in this area.”

He added: “The work will consist of the refurbishment of the bridge deck; the removal of the existing cantilevered walkways, parapets and stone ballast; steelwork repair; surface preparation; repainting and a new bridge deck surface and drainage system.

“This is a substantial project that will breathe new life into an old bridge and make an already popular part of Cardiff even more attractive for residents and the many visitors who use the Taff Trail.”

The scheme will include refurbishing the bridge deck, and removing the existing cantilevered walkways, parapets and stone ballast.

Steelwork will also be repaired and repainted, and a new bridge deck surface and drainage system will be installed.

The work is scheduled to begin on Monday, October 15 and will take about 16 weeks to complete, depending on the weather.

It will be financed largely from Section 106 funds generated from the development at Radyr sidings.

Penny Bowers, chairwoman of Friends of Hailey Park, said it was “brilliant” that the

bridge was being refurbished.

Ms Bowers said plans to refurbish the old railway bridge were first discussed five years ago, but never came about due to a lack of funding.

She said: “We have all been aware that it has been a case that funds have needed to be got hold of. I think some people are saying it’s about time really.”

The 53-year-old said that in the past walkers and cyclists tried to cross the old railway bridge, but it had since become too dangerous and overgrown.

Ms Bowers, who works as a freelance editor for academic journals, said she hoped the scheme would encourage more residents to use Hailey Park.

Speaking about the park, she said: “I think it’s really one of these hidden gems, and really I say hidden gem because a lot of people don’t seem to know Hailey Park that well and when they visit they think, ‘Why haven’t we seen this before?’”

Llandaff North councillor Siobhan Corria said she was pleased with the plans, but said some residents had expressed concerns over a possible increase in cyclists speeding through Hailey Park.

But she added: “I think it will obviously make accessibility from Llandaff North easier to Llandaff and Radyr.

“It’s great the other communities will be able to access this wonderful park.”